Marilyn says Pam loves to take all the steps necessary to see to it that families who have fallen on financial hard times and can no longer afford pet food for their dogs and cats, receive all the help they can and stay together.

The pantry gives out pet food at no cost over a one to two week period to people who qualify.

Pam says the best part is when a one-time recipient becomes a supporter or even a volunteer.

Pam says, "The award is really not just for me, it's for all the volunteers that help at the pantry. Three years ago when we started, it was me and a couple other people, but now it's so much more than that, and there's no way I could have gone the Extra Mile without all of their help.

Each year, several hundred pets are surrendered by their owners because they cannot afford to take care of them, so we hope that this is a way to keep the animals out of the shelter.

I've had animals all of my life growing up, and as an adult, that was when I realized the special relationship that people have with their pets.

My goal for the Fort Wayne Pet Food Pantry, hopefully over the next five years, is to become a larger distribution center for pet food similar to the Community Harvest Food Bank so that we can service not only our local community but also the surrounding counties."

The local pantry operates every Saturday out of the HOPE For Animals Clinic at 1333 Maycrest, off Lake Avenue.

Donations of dog and cat food are in short supply, so you may want to consider a cash or food donation to the Fort Wayne Pet Food Pantry. Go to www.fwpetfoodpantry.com

There's a list of drop-off sites and a complete wish list on the website.

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